...a haven of hope and aspiration...

Geography Lead: Miss Paul

At Archbishop Courtenay Primary school, we ensure the curriculum provides a coherent, progressive and challenging approach to the teaching of geography within the context of the wider curriculum, enabling our children to flourish. Geography is a  key foundation subject within our school curriculum and has a vital role in developing literacy and deepening pupils' understanding of the physical and human aspects, their structure and impact on our world. It celebrates the wonder and awe of the natural world as well as helps pupils to understand the variety of impact that human beings have upon our planet through land use and care.

As in all areas of the curriculum, we promote a love of learning, wisdom, hope and dignity within our Christian community and aspire to enable children to discover life in all its fullness which Jesus offers.

Pupils are encouraged to critically reflect on their learning and are actively taught respect and tolerance for our world and others that call earth home. Learning from geography, our school  helps children to develop a sense of humanity’s key role in protecting and caring for the planet as well as the wonder of God’s creation. Through Human Geography and learning about the world we call home, pupils are learning the skills of: 

• Consideration
• Tolerance
• Empathy
• Respect
• Forgiveness
• Friendship

British Values

At Archbishop Courtenay Primary school, we understand clearly our responsibility in preparing children for future opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life, laying the foundations so that they can take their place successfully in modern British society. We promote a respect for and understanding of different faiths and cultures. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of each child is central to everything that we do as a school and central to our school vision. This is evidenced through our teaching and learning, our inclusive environment and through the many opportunities provided for our children to understand democracy, law, liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.

Planning

Through our Geography curriculum, we aim to support pupils to develop their own thinking and understanding through research and their own questions. We teach Geography so that pupils can identify and highlight key ideas and processes that shape communities and contrast these with their experiences of the area they live in, drawing on evidence and research to build a rich picture to deepen their understanding and knowledge.  Pupils are taught to consider the impact humans have on the planet and the impact the physical processes have upon us and are taught to develop links between these practices and processes, enabling them to reach their own conclusions.

Assessment

Children are monitored on a regular basis to check progress, this supports teachers in identifying gaps in children’s knowledge. We encourage all pupils to take responsibility for their own and their peers learning. Teacher assess and monitor progress through their teaching and questioning to enable then to adjust accordingly through planning to meet the children’s individual learning needs and through written work linked to the geographical content. Children to part in quizzes, to reinforce prior learning and gaps, at the start of lessons and at the end of the whole unit. Children complete learning logs at the end of the week to summarise their learning of the week. At the end of the unit, teachers assess children’s progress towards the end of key stage national curriculum objectives. We use this to support our identification of gifted and talented pupils.

Collective Evidence

At Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, we believe that all pupils should have the opportunities to share their pupil voice. We do this in a number of ways. The curriculum allows opportunities for pupils to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding when using their pupil voice. The subject leader finds out pupil’s opinions about the teaching of Geography  and the content covered through interviewing selected pupils during lesson observations and pupil conference opportunities. The subject leader acts upon the comments and suggestions of pupils wherever possible.

Enrichment Opportunities

• Visitors to school and in-school experiences
• School Trips and field trips
• Whole school – a school-wide local study project
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Targets 

• To promote environmental issues through the use of an Eco committee and to ensure that children are regularly given opportunities to plan and lead whole school environmental projects to discuss global environmental issues and our local area.
• To promote and extend school and community partnerships, including with local churches, faith groups and relevant environmental groups.
• Improve the quality of teaching of Geography, ensuring tasks and activities are appropriately matched to pupil needs and abilities.  Focusing on 'geography in the news' encouraging critical thinking opportunities which develop self-confidence and awareness in order to understand the world they live in as individuals and as members of groups.
• Improve and promote opportunities for self-review during lessons or at the end of each topic to deepen pupil’s knowledge and skills within the work of the school, and where possible, centred on the interests of the children.

Impact

This will be monitored through the collection of pupil and staff voices and any adjustments to the programme made where appropriate.